Alterations

[Laurenj915]

I got my dress and it is too big (I know that happens to everyone) so I have to get it taken in (straps, waist, length, hips) and I do not want to be a pain in the butt bride but I want them to take the wire out of the bodice. The bridal store doesn''t think I should, but of course they don''t, it''s more work.

It''s just that the wires are not laying flat against me or hitting me in the right spots. I am petite so I guess me torso is shorter than the average person. The wires are supposed to mold to your breasts but they are giving me breasts in an unnatural place.


Do you think that will be a big deal? Has anyone had that done? I guess the is the possibility that it could really alter the look of the dress. I am not sure what to do.

Also, is it normal to want my own bra sewn into the dress? Will they look at me weird if I ask that? They have suggested sewing in cups but I am more comfortable in an actual bra.

I am trying not to be disappointed but I thought when I got the dress in the correct size it would look a certain way and it doesn''t (I''m sure it will with alterations). I was so excited to pick it up and not I am worried that the alterations people won''t get it right or do what I want.

 

[lucy.lucy.80]

Hi Lauren

Do you have a picture of your dress and/or the fabric?? Its tough to answer without seeing it.

I totally understand what you are saying though and agree that if the boning in the dress is too long and your torso is shorter, then definetly try to either remove the boning, or see if they can make it shorter so it fits you properly.

I have never had it done and I am not 100% sure they will be able to do it, but i would definetly ask.

If you do totally remove the boning, try buying a corset (with boning) that fits you properly as that should help maintain the appearance of the dress. Generally speaking, the only reason boning is in there is to make the bodice stiffer and stay up.

 

[Laurenj915]

This is the dress. It is made of Taffeta.
Dress

The dress has wide shoulder straps so hopefully it will be able to stay up without the boning. I just think/hope it will lay and drape nicer without it.

I guess it's also hard to get used to seeing yourself in a dress with so much structure and so much fabric. Usually dresses drape your body and compliment it. Wedding dresses feel like they could stand up on their own.

Thanks!

 

[Courtneylub]

Date: 3/6/2008 10:04:33 AM
Author: Lauren1116
This is the dress. It is made of Taffeta.
Dress

The dress has wide shoulder straps so hopefully it will be able to stay up without the boning. I just think/hope it will lay and drape nicer without it.

I guess it''s also hard to get used to seeing yourself in a dress with so much structure and so much fabric. Usually dresses drape your body and compliment it. Wedding dresses feel like they could stand up on their own.

Thanks!

I don''t know much about the alterations, but I''m sure they can do anything you want.

But that is a GORGEOUS dress!!!

 

[lucy.lucy.80]

beautiful dress!!

If there are straps and its made of taffeta (which is a crisp fabric but not necessarily heavy) I dont see a problem taking out the boning and I dont think it will drastically alter your dress either.

Talk again with your seamstress and if they still strongly advise against it I would just keep it in or ask if they can make the boning shorter. Boning is usually a plastic or wire peice that is cut in strips and is encased/sewn into the fabric. It''s not an easy process, but I know it is possible.

 

[KCCutie]

I do a lot of alterations, mostly for the stage and for myself, and yes they should be able to take it out. However if they are doing other alterations to make the dress fit maybe once they get those done the boning will be in the right place and won''t need to be removed.

Really it''s in there to keep the shape of the dress not to keep it up. Looking at the picture I can''t tell where it would be, but I would say talk to the seamstress again and let them know that you''re worried the boning will be too long for your torso. I would say let them do the other work first and see if that helps and then make sure they will still have time to remove or shorten the boning if it still isn''t right.

Bottom line is it''s your dress and you are paying them so they should do whatever you ask and if they won''t then take it somewhere else. On the other hand they are professionals and if they think it''s a bad idea to remove it I''m sure they have a good reason. So just talk to them and be really direct and honest about what you want and why.

 

[sosheksi]

im in a same situation as you... my dress will arrive sometime next week.. I''m very petite yet my Manuel Mota dress is a size 10...... and I''m a size 4 in their chart... so i''m a lil worried about alterations... im afraid it might not look as nice ....... but we''ll see... good luck with your dress though

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I used to be a seemstress as well and I strongly recommend having the boning shortened, not removed. A dress like that does better with dtrong curve which properly fitted boning should provide. I suspect if you had it removed you wouldn''t like the way the dress sat against your body. I am very short and have shortened boning for myself and it really does help.

 

[Laurenj915]

Thanks for the help everyone!

Brazen_irish_hussy- I know you said not to have it removed and I would love it if you would look at the pic of the dress on me and give me your advice based on that.

Everyone keeps saying I just need a little padding or a padded bra. When I did put on a padded bra with the dress it didn''t look different. The boning is big enough or hard enough that I can''t push it out to give me shape.

If I wear a shirt or dress in normal life the fabric has no boning under it and it drapes over my breasts, it is cut smaller at my waist and it accentuates what little curves I have. This dress makes me look boxy and flat in the bust. I love the waist and hips where there is not any boning. On the right side of the dress on me you can see where the boning is. You can see the line it makes since is not fitted to my body. Not only is the boning too long but I think it is shaped for a girl with a bigger bust. It''s in the shape of a C bust when I am an A bust. Can they remold the shape of the boning if I keep it?

I am afraid to do the wrong thing and mess up the dress.

Dress on me

 

[KCCutie]

That is a beautiful dress and you look stunning in it, but I see what you mean now. I thought you meant the boning was to long on the bottom around your waist which happens to me all the time since I''m so short.

Are you sure the alteration to the straps is not going to help? Although it''s not 3-D and I can''t touch it I would worry that taking the boning out completely could take some of the curves from the top. Did they try sewing pads into the dress not just a padded bra. I used to sew pads into the dresses all the time up to four per breast. Maybe just try stuffing them in and see if that helps. If there isn''t extra room around your ribs to be taken in then sometimes adding pads until the space is filled is the best form saving option. But if you really want them out it can be done.

 

[Laurenj915]

KCCutie

They have not tried sewing pads in yet. I tried a padded bra and even added pads inside it. I could keep adding until it actually fit but I am hoping I can get the dress to accentuate my real shape not have to stuff it so my body fits the dress. Know what I mean? I can just imagine walking down the ilse and watching people''s eyes bug out of their head as they see I''ve gone up two cup sizes since the rehersal diner.

Do you know if the boning can be molded to my breast size?

This is a great education in clothing alteration by the way.

Thanks

 

[K&L]

i had a bridesmaids dress with boning in it that i had removed. i have a small frame and the dress was about 4 sizes too big in the smallest size it came in. it was an off the shoulder dress, and with the boning, the dress actually stuck out so that you could see down it. it was bad.

anyway, once the boning was removed it fit a lot better, but it looked different than the other bridesmaids dresses. it didn''t have the "structure" that the others did. i''m no seamstress, but i understand you wanting it to fit your curves better.

(i''ve been to several weddings where the bride was about two cup sizes bigger on her wedding day.)

i''d say, try shortening the boning first and see how that works.

 

[KCCutie]

It really depends on what kind of boning it is, but I''ve never seen boning be re-shaped (and trust me I''ve wanted to do it on more than one occasion). I totally understand that you want to accentuate your natural shape but it may be worth giving the pads a try. Even when we sewed in 8 pads total the bride didn''t look 2 cup sizes larger, but you could pin in the pads and see what it looks like. But if the boning isn''t in the right place now filling out with pads could make it worse. I''m also starting to think that if the boning just isn''t right for you, you could do what someone else suggested and have them take it out but wear a real corset underneath to give some structure to it.

On the other hand, the fabric is now fitting over the boning and I''m afraid if you take that shape out there will then be too much fabric and it won''t lay against your skin like you want it to. Although this depends on the fabric and the drape of the dress.

Looking at the picture again it seems that some of the problem may be that you are slightly short waisted and the bust in the dress is a little high, but because of the cut the only way to move those down would be to move everything down and it looks like it fits perfectly over your hips. I have this problem all the time and have to buy a larger size so it will fit lower over my hips (which are much bigger than yours) then take in the waist and sometimes take the shoulders up a bit too (and of course then the hem is much longer) b/c a normal waist from neck to waist is something like 17" and I''m about 15". If they could do that it might make the strap alterations easier, but like I said it seems to fit snuggly over your hips.

Okay so that seems like a lot of rambling, sorry about that I hope it makes some sense. Makes me really wish I could see the dress and help you myself but unless you live in KC that won''t work. if you can glean enough info from these posts and go back in and have a more educated discussion with your seamstress I''m sure you can work it out.